Given the level of community concern over violent computer and video games it is disappointing that the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting did not reject outright a proposal for more violent games to go on sale in Australia, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) said today.

ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace said that if an R18+ classification is introduced for interactive games it will inevitably lead to some children playing these games – to the detriment of both their development and the wider society.

“We are aware that the interactive entertainment industry has been lobbying hard on this issue, but the Attorneys-General need to be careful not to bow to their demands at the expense of the public good,” Mr Wallace said.

“I urge all those who care about this issue to get involved in the public consultation, even if they aren’t normally active the political domain.”

Mr Wallace said that if an R18+ rating is introduced it could lead to some of the worst interactive games going on sale in Australia.

“Given what happens with R-rated films, we could have no confidence that the classification guidelines would be properly applied. For example, due to loopholes in the guidelines, real sex is sometimes being shown in R-rated films. What will happen if we have R18+ games, which have even greater impact because of their interactive nature?”